A plane had to be diverted to Gatwick after a woman allegedly unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade and threw her prosthetic leg at cabin crew.

A Sussex police spokesman said trouble kicked off when the woman, 48, began "swearing blue murder" and throwing food at staff on the Thomson Airlines flight 297 on Wednesday evening.

The captain became so alarmed by her behaviour that he diverted the plane, which was flying from Enfidha in Tunisia and destined for Edinburgh..

The woman, who is unemployed and from Edinburgh, was arrested by police at the North Terminal at 10.22pm the same night.

She was taken to Crawley police station where she was quizzed by officers on suspicion of using threatening behaviour.

In a statement, Sussex Police said: "At 10.22pm on Wednesday (30 July) a 48-year-old unemployed woman from Edinburgh was arrested at the North Terminal, Gatwick Airport, on suspicion of using threatening behaviour while aboard Thompson flight 297 from Tunisia to Edinburgh.

"The flight was diverted into Gatwick after it was alleged the woman had been abusive and had thrown a prosthetic leg and food at cabin crew."

A spokesman added: "She was swearing blue murder, saying she was going to do this and that and the other, so the flight was diverted to Gatwick."

In a statement, Thomson Airways said: "Thomson Airways would like to apologise to passengers for the diversion into Gatwick airport of flight TOM 297 travelling from Enfidha, Tunisia to Edinburgh on 30th July.

"Unfortunately a passenger became disruptive on board and as a last resort the captain decided to divert the flight to Gatwick. Upon landing, the aircraft was met by local police and the passenger was removed for questioning.

"We would like to reassure customers that their safety is our priority at all times. Thomson Airways operates a zero tolerance policy with regards to any disruptive behaviour on board and incidents of this type are extremely rare."

Comments

I bet she us living fear about the conditional discharge they will slap on her now.

I bet she us living fear about the conditional discharge they will slap on her now.NickBrt

I bet she us living fear about the conditional discharge they will slap on her now.

Score: 3

hubby
11:08pm Thu 31 Jul 14

She was legless and falling over drunk.

She was legless and falling over drunk.hubby

She was legless and falling over drunk.

Score: 5

Vigilia
11:09pm Thu 31 Jul 14

Poor woman, more to be pitied than blamed. Being a Glaswegian she was merely trying to establish to all that she was legless.

Poor woman, more to be pitied than blamed. Being a Glaswegian she was merely trying to establish to all that she was legless.Vigilia

Poor woman, more to be pitied than blamed. Being a Glaswegian she was merely trying to establish to all that she was legless.

Score: 4

NickBrt
11:58pm Thu 31 Jul 14

She was quizzed?! What ? Did they ask her the capital city of Australia?

She was quizzed?! What ? Did they ask her the capital city of Australia?NickBrt

She was quizzed?! What ? Did they ask her the capital city of Australia?

Score: 6

From beer to uncertainty
12:54am Fri 1 Aug 14

Sleepless in Seattle might seem boring compared to this sequel...(fill in obvious joke here) in Edinburgh.

Sleepless in Seattle might seem boring compared to this sequel...(fill in obvious joke here) in Edinburgh.From beer to uncertainty

Sleepless in Seattle might seem boring compared to this sequel...(fill in obvious joke here) in Edinburgh.

Score: 2

vogon1
5:40am Fri 1 Aug 14

Was it heather mills?

Was it heather mills?vogon1

Was it heather mills?

Score: 12

Youlikemyjugs
6:52am Fri 1 Aug 14

Typical of of our friends north of the border - loud, aggressive and drunk.

Typical of of our friends north of the border - loud, aggressive and drunk.Youlikemyjugs

Typical of of our friends north of the border - loud, aggressive and drunk.

Score: 3

Sussex jim
7:07am Fri 1 Aug 14

What's an unemployed woman doing flying from Tunisia? Presumably returning from a holiday. It seems they pay out too much benefit in Scotland.

What's an unemployed woman doing flying from Tunisia? Presumably returning from a holiday. It seems they pay out too much benefit in Scotland.Sussex jim

What's an unemployed woman doing flying from Tunisia? Presumably returning from a holiday. It seems they pay out too much benefit in Scotland.

Score: 13

Old Ale Man
7:21am Fri 1 Aug 14

I like that comment from the Police where they say, trouble kicked off, it was more like when she threw her leg in!!!

I like that comment from the Police where they say, trouble kicked off, it was more like when she threw her leg in!!!Old Ale Man

I like that comment from the Police where they say, trouble kicked off, it was more like when she threw her leg in!!!

Score: 4

Mrbrightside1
9:01am Fri 1 Aug 14

The passengers erupted into song when she was removed from the plane, good choice of song too, put ur left leg in, ur left leg out, in out, in out, shake it all about. Hilarious

The passengers erupted into song when she was removed from the plane, good choice of song too, put ur left leg in, ur left leg out, in out, in out, shake it all about. HilariousMrbrightside1

The passengers erupted into song when she was removed from the plane, good choice of song too, put ur left leg in, ur left leg out, in out, in out, shake it all about. Hilarious

Score: 9

gaay buoy
9:30am Fri 1 Aug 14

The old sweaty socks love a drink lol

The old sweaty socks love a drink lolgaay buoy

The old sweaty socks love a drink lol

Score: 3

TIMBURRY
10:22am Fri 1 Aug 14

Reality set in when she realised the toy boy she met on the internet was only interested in her money.. ANOTHER FOOL IN PARADISE.

Reality set in when she realised the toy boy she met on the internet was only interested in her money.. ANOTHER FOOL IN PARADISE.TIMBURRY

Reality set in when she realised the toy boy she met on the internet was only interested in her money.. ANOTHER FOOL IN PARADISE.

Score: 1

lincsboy351
12:10pm Fri 1 Aug 14

Stop her benefits and confiscate her leg.

Stop her benefits and confiscate her leg.lincsboy351

Stop her benefits and confiscate her leg.

Score: 4

Goldenwight
12:50pm Fri 1 Aug 14

I don't know why the Police even bothered interviewing her- it is quite clear that she hasn't got a leg to stand on...

I don't know why the Police even bothered interviewing her- it is quite clear that she hasn't got a leg to stand on...Goldenwight

I don't know why the Police even bothered interviewing her- it is quite clear that she hasn't got a leg to stand on...

Score: 5

NickBrt
1:08pm Fri 1 Aug 14

Some of these comments are totally prosthetic.

Some of these comments are totally prosthetic.NickBrt

Some of these comments are totally prosthetic.

Score: 5

lovethegreens
1:30pm Fri 1 Aug 14

Its clearly the airlines fault for letting her get so drunk, can't blame the staff as their basic pay is so poor they need all the commission they can get. Seriously though, diverting the plane was a tad over the top, should have just hand-cuffed her to her seat and be done rather than inconvenience 00's of other people.

Its clearly the airlines fault for letting her get so drunk, can't blame the staff as their basic pay is so poor they need all the commission they can get. Seriously though, diverting the plane was a tad over the top, should have just hand-cuffed her to her seat and be done rather than inconvenience 00's of other people.lovethegreens

Its clearly the airlines fault for letting her get so drunk, can't blame the staff as their basic pay is so poor they need all the commission they can get. Seriously though, diverting the plane was a tad over the top, should have just hand-cuffed her to her seat and be done rather than inconvenience 00's of other people.

Score: 0

Mrbrightside1
2:01pm Fri 1 Aug 14

lovethegreens wrote…

Its clearly the airlines fault for letting her get so drunk, can't blame the staff as their basic pay is so poor they need all the commission they can get. Seriously though, diverting the plane was a tad over the top, should have just hand-cuffed her to her seat and be done rather than inconvenience 00's of other people.

Yawnnnnn, please change your username.

[quote][p][bold]lovethegreens[/bold] wrote:
Its clearly the airlines fault for letting her get so drunk, can't blame the staff as their basic pay is so poor they need all the commission they can get. Seriously though, diverting the plane was a tad over the top, should have just hand-cuffed her to her seat and be done rather than inconvenience 00's of other people.[/p][/quote]Yawnnnnn, please change your username.Mrbrightside1

lovethegreens wrote…

Its clearly the airlines fault for letting her get so drunk, can't blame the staff as their basic pay is so poor they need all the commission they can get. Seriously though, diverting the plane was a tad over the top, should have just hand-cuffed her to her seat and be done rather than inconvenience 00's of other people.

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